Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Lovely wife 222

Chained

"But why?" Cassandra asked. "1-why would they try to hurt me?" This is no longer like the simple scheming that she does with other people in the show business industry.

"I wouldn't know that," her manager said. "However... I am pretty certain that this wasn't a coincidence. They-perhaps even Mr. Horvath himself-must have created this trap."

"Then what should I do now?"

"I-I don't know. However, it is best that you talk to that-whoever it is that told you this idea would work."

Almost immediately, Cassandra's expression changed. She looked at her manager. "You knew?"

"Of course, I would know! I know that someone must have given you the courage to do something like that in exchange for something huge. Look-" her manager sighed. "Just please fix this. I will do my best to support you, but just please. please try to fix what you can fix."

Cassandra's lips trembled. At the end of the day, Olivier actually left her hanging! He was the one who promised her everything, yet now that they announced their engagement...

Cassandra sat down heavily on the couch, her mind swirling. She pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead, willing the pounding in her head to stop.

Olivier and Celeste had been so convincing that night.

She remembered it clearly. It had been a private dinner at an exclusive restaurant. The couple sat across from her. Celeste especially looked so friendly. She had a glass of wine in one hand, her expression calm and steady. She had leaned in slightly, dropping her voice as if sharing a secret too dangerous to say aloud.

"They're already married," she told her. "Liam and Isabella signed the papers months ago. It's a business arrangement. Nothing more."

Cassandra had blinked at her, struggling to process the information.

"They aren't planning to announce it," Celeste continued. "Too many complications. The media would dig into it. Shareholders would ask questions. The timing isn't right for them."

She remembered how she had set his glass down carefully before continuing.

"I know you care about Liam," she said. "I know you have for a long time. That's why I'm coming to you."

Cassandra had swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around her napkin.

Celeste smiled, just slightly. "This is an opportunity. For both of us."

She had explained it so neatly, so logically. If she pushed now-if she created enough doubt-Isabella would be forced to step away. The marriage would be exposed as a fraud. Liam, humiliated and cornered, would need a softer, safer image to clean up the scandal. Cassandra. The woman who stood by him. The woman the public already believed had a connection to him.

"You're beautiful and talented, and you have real public sympathy," Celeste said. "You're the perfect solution."

looked at her like the whole thing was inevitable. Like it was already hers if she just took one

her roles. Sponsorships. Media coverage that would bury her rivals. Stocks in a growing entertainment company. Connections she could never have

do was help

she had to

She had wanted to believe them. She had liked Liam. She thought-no,

He had to.

of it was crashing

Isabella into his arms, shielding her in front of the cameras, declaring war on anyone who dared

felt her stomach

Successfully unlocked!

and Isabella's grandparents to protect each

left her with nothing but a pile of broken promises and a future slipping through her

1/3

Chained

they weren't

with shaky hands. Her

but Celeste might still pick

list and dialed Celeste's number. It

and dialed again, more

thought they could just ignore

then went silent

up, pacing back and forth,

me away?" she muttered under her breath. "Fine. If they won't talk to me, I'll talk to everyone. I'll tell

need to calm down before you do anything stupid." Cassandra snatched the bottle without thinking. Her mouth

her mouth with the back of her hand and turned

slightly. The edges of her vision blurred. Her hands felt numb. She looked at her manager,

her voice barely above

at her, her face tight with something Cassandra

forward, but her legs buckled. She collapsed onto the floor, her

her manager kneeling beside her, picking up the phone carefully and

Why? Just why?

woke with

blinding. She blinked hard, trying to

her.

Cold. The walls were stark white with nothing on them. No windows. Only a single bed bolted

sit up and